Related Headlines

HOUSTON (FOX 26) - Former prosecutor Kim Ogg preaches a gospel of criminal justice reform and if elected Harris County District Attorney, she says she is prepared to launch some very big changes.

"Spending our money prosecuting 12,000 people a year for misdemeanor marijuana just depletes our future labor pool," said Ogg who pledges no jail time for anyone caught committing a minor drug offense. "We want people in the work force. We can hold people accountable for small amounts of drugs, but use the real money for catching real criminals."

The Democratic candidate, Ogg promises fresh priorities and a renewed focus on major crimes that have become chronic and inadequately challenged in and around the third largest city.

"I intend on day one to pay for the backlog of rape kits so that they can be tested, to pay for the backlog of burglary DNA so that we can get some cases going against burglars in this city who are ravaging families," said Ogg, a former Crime Stoppers of Houston director.

Ogg is battling incumbent district attorney Devon Anderson who has drawn heavy fire for jailing a rape victim to insure testimony as well as refusing for months to reveal to defendants and their lawyers the massive destruction of Harris County Precinct 4 evidence.

If elected, Ogg said she will prohibit incarceration of victims under any circumstances and establish an unprecedented level of transparency.

"It's not always seamless," said Ogg. "It's not always perfect and mistakes can be made and if that happens when I'm the District Attorney, unlike my opponent, I'll stand up, take responsibility and I'll apologize," This election is a rematch. Anderson beat Ogg in 2014 by roughly 42,000 votes.